SACRAMENTO – The Contractors State License Board’s (CSLB) Renewals Unit has been contacted by several licensees who attempted to renew their license through an outside business, rather than directly with CSLB. In some cases, doing so caused delays, which resulted in their licenses expiring. As a result, they must now pay late fees.
CSLB has also learned that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received about 50 complaints over the past couple of years about companies that offer to file regulatory paperwork for people throughout the state. The companies have addresses in the Sacramento and Los Angeles areas, and use business names that usually include the words “Renewal” or “Filing.” The BBB complaints indicated that the companies charged a fee to register or change the names of corporations with the Secretary of State’s Office or renew or change the names on city and county business licenses, but failed to do so.
CSLB reminds all 310,000 licensed contractors that it sends renewal notices approximately 60 days before a license will expire. The application and renewal fees, or fees to make any other changes to a license, should be addressed directly to:
Contractors State License Board
P.O. Box 26000
Sacramento, CA 95826-0026
Licensees should also be aware that credit card payments for renewals or exams are accepted in person at CSLB’s Sacramento Headquarters office, located at 9821 Business Park Drive.
Applying for, renewing or changing your license or company name may be done through the appropriate government agency without additional cost. If you have any doubts, contact that government agency directly to assure the appropriate fees are sent to the correct address.
If you have received any suspicious mail soliciting fees to act on your behalf or as an intermediary for licensing or changing your business name, contact your local police or sheriffs department and Better Business Bureau to report the suspected fraud.
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